Advertisement

Shapps Resigns After Tory Bullying Claims

Government minister Grant Shapps has resigned amid allegations he failed to act on claims of bullying in the Tory youth wing.

Mr Shapps told the PM in his resignation letter that the "buck should stop with me" over issues while he was Conservative Party chairman.

It has been alleged that Mr Shapps mishandled claims that 21-year-old activist Elliott Johnson was bullied.

Mr Johnson left a note accusing Tory youth organiser Mark Clarke of bullying before dying on railway tracks on 15 September.

Mr Clarke denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Shapps, international development minister, quit after Mr Johnson's father, Ray, called for him to go - along with the current party chairman Lord Feldman.

He insisted his son would still be alive if they had acted properly.

:: Shapps Denies Editing Rivals' Wikipedia Pages

In his letter to David Cameron, Mr Shapps wrote: "Although neither the party nor I can find any record of written allegations of bullying, sexual abuse or blackmail made to the chairman's office prior to the election, I cannot help but feel that the steady stream of those who raised smaller, more nuanced, objections should have perhaps set alarm bells ringing sooner.

"In the end, I signed that letter appointing Mark Clarke 'director of Road Trip' and I firmly believe that whatever the rights and wrongs of a serious case like this, responsibility should rest somewhere.

"Over the past few weeks - as individual allegations have come to light - I have come to the conclusion that the buck should stop with me."

:: Tory Chairman Behind Anti-Labour Business Letter In Newspaper

In his letter accepting the resignation, Mr Cameron said : "I know that this will have been a very difficult decision for you to make, and something you will have given a great deal of thought to over recent days.

"I understand your reasons for stepping down and accept your decision."

Mr Cameron said he would "always remember" that Mr Shapps had been "a loyal and trusted supporter of mine from the very beginning".

"You have made a lasting contribution to the work of the Government, but you have also been a faithful servant of our party, and I know you have much more to give in the years ahead," he added.

The Prime Minister heralded Mr Shapps's departure earlier, describing Mr Johnson's death as a "tragic loss".

The Conservatives have always claimed they were not aware of any complaints against Mr Clarke before August, when Mr Johnson made an official complaint to Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).

However, it emerged earlier this week that Conservative peer Baroness Warsi, a former party chairman, had written a letter in January complaining about Mr Clarke abusing her on Twitter.

Ben Harris-Quinney, chairman of a Conservative Party think tank called the Bow Group, told Sky News he was aware of allegations involving Mark Clarke, stretching back to 2007.

In addition, Conservative aides were warning about Mr Clarke, who was dubbed "Tatler Tory" after the magazine named him as one to watch for the future, as far back as 2008 when he was an election candidate for Tooting.

He failed to gain the seat at the 2010 General Election.

Downing Street has announced that Big Society minister Nick Hurd will replace Mr Shapps as international development minister.

Attention is now likely to turn to the position of Lord Feldman, a key ally of Mr Cameron and one of the driving forces behind the Tory election victory.